Amazon's New Fire Stick Blocks VPNs, Crippling TV Piracy

In November 2025, Amazon's latest Fire TV Stick model is proving to be a major obstacle for TV pirates looking to illegally stream content. The new Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which launched just a few weeks ago, comes with much stricter rules that severely limit the ability to use piracy apps.

Amazon had already been blocking these "dodgy" apps through its own Appstore, but users were still able to "side-load" them onto their Fire Stick devices. However, the recent major update has now closed this loophole, and the new Fire TV Stick 4K Select model has even tighter restrictions on side-loading.

Furthermore, the new Fire Stick model does not currently support the use of VPNs, which are often used by TV pirates to mask their online activity and bypass restrictions. This is a significant blow, as VPNs are a crucial tool for accessing pirated content.

Amazon's crackdown on piracy is an ongoing effort, and the company says its new rules will significantly limit illegal streaming on Fire Sticks going forward. The retail giant has been working with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, to identify and block apps that provide access to pirated content.

As a result of these measures, even if TV pirates find a way to use illegal streaming apps on the new Fire Stick, they will still be unable to access VPNs to hide their activities. This makes it extremely difficult for them to continue their illicit practices on the latest Amazon device.